History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 12

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 12
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 12

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Leaving Joutel to complete the work, with one hundred men, La Salle took the remainder of the company and embarked on the river, with the intention of proceeding as far up as he could. The savages soon became troublesome, and on the 14th of July, La Salle ordered Joutel to join him with his whole force. They had already lost several of their best men, and dangers threatened them on every side. It would seem from the historian's account of the expedition that La Salle began to erect another fort, and also that he became morose and severe in his dicipline, so much so as to get the ill will of many of his people. He finally resolved to advance into the country, but whether with a view of returning to Canada by way of Illinois, or only for the purpose of making further dis- coveries, Joutel leaves in doubt. Giving his last instructions, he left the fort on the 12th day of January, 1687, with a com- pany of about a dozen men, including his brother, two nephews, Father Anastasius, a Franciscan friar, Joutel, and others, and moved northeastward, as is supposed, until the 17th of March, when some of his men, who had been cherishing revengeful feelings for some time, waylaid the Chevalier and shot him dead. They also slew one of his nephews and two of his ser- vants.

This terrible deed occurred on the 20th of March, 1687, on a stream called the Cenis. The murderers quarreled among themselves and several of them were killed, and the whole ex- pedition was eventually cut to pieces and dispersed by the savages, a few being taken prisoners and returned to their friends through the Spaniards, and by other means, in the course of several years afterwards.

In 1687, France was involved in a long and bloody war. The league of Augsburg was formed by the princes of the Empire against Louis XIV., and England, Spain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Savoy took up arms, and Louis found himself battling with nearly the whole of Europe, and only Turkey for an ally. This war ended with the peace of Ryswick in 1697.

No material change took place in America, but the colonists were harassed, and many of their people killed or carried cap- tives to the Canadas. In 1688, the French possessions in North America included nearly the whole of the continent north of the St. Lawrence, and the entire valley of the Missis- sippi ; and they had begun to establish a line of fortifications extending from Quebec to the mouth of the Mississippi, be- tween which points they had three great lines of commimica- tion, to wit : by way of Mackinaw, Green Bay, and the Wis- eonsin river; by way of Lake Michigan, the Kankakee and Illinois rivers; and by way of Lake Erie, the Maumee and Wabash rivers, and were preparing to explore the Ohio as a fourth route.

At this time a census of New France showed a total popu- lation of eleven thousand two hundred and forty-nine Euro- peans. War again broke out in 1701, and extended over a period of twelve years, ending with the treaty of Utrecht in 1713. This also extended to the American Colonies, and its 5-B. & J. COS.

close left everything as before, with the exception that Nova Scotia was captured in 1710. The boundaries between the French possessions and the English colonies were left as unset- tled as ever, and no definite or settled condition of affairs was arrived at until another generation had passed over the stage.

MOVEMENTS OF THE FRENCH ON THE LAKES AND THE OHIO.

The French began to visit the headwaters of the Ohio prob- ably as early as 1739. Detroit was founded by them in 1700-1, and a great military road was constructed from that point to the Ohio in 1739. They called the river "La Belle Riviere," and it was known among some of the Indian tribes as Oua- bous-ki-gou. French voyageurs and explorers had undoubtedly been familiar with Lake Erie since the early discoveries of La Salle, and probably had established trading-houses and erected fortifications at various points, from Niagara to their settle- ments on Lake St. Clair and the Detroit river. As early as 1690 they had a trading-post at the head of Lake Erie, on the Maumee, called by them " River. a la Roche."

The "Post Vincennes," on the Wabash, about forty miles above its mouth, was founded very early,-1711-12,-and minor stations were located at various points on those streams. Fort Niagara was permanently built in 1726, and it is claimed by some writers that La Salle erected a stockade at the foot of the big island in the Maumee about 1680.

As early as 1719, the French began actively to erect a line of forts for the purpose of connecting Canada with the valley of the Mississippi, at both extremities of which they had ex- tensive settlements, and continued their efforts until they suc- ceeded in erecting forts at the most important points. Fully to effect their purposes, and previous to thoroughly exploring the country along the Ohio, they sent out missionaries or agents to conciliate the Shawanese, Delaware, and other Indians. Their design was to secure, as far as possible, an Indian alliance against the English. Most of the tribes were pretty easily won over. The Senecas, and others of the Iroquois which were more friendly to the English, were not so easily secured, but were finally induced to occupy a somewhat neutral position. Some of the Shawanese chiefs had been taken to the French Governor, at Montreal, with whom, at their return, they seemed highly pleased, and various methods were adopted to secure their friendship.

According to colonial records, the French had established trading-houses on the Ohio, against the remonstrances of some of the Indians, as early as 1730-32. This statement was also attested by the Six Nations at a conference with the English at Philadelphia, in 1732.

In 1743, Pierre Chartierre (generally written Peter Chartier), a half-breed trader, and French spy, who had made Philadel- phia his chief residence, endeavored to engage the Shawanese in a war with the Six Nations. Being suspected, he fled to the Shawanese, persuaded them to declare for the French, was recom- pensed with a French commission, and committed numerous depredations. At the head of four hundred warriors, he way- laid and seized two provincial traders on the Allegheny river, with goods valued at sixteen hundred pounds.

The war which began in 1744 between France and England was felt throughout the colonies.

VIRGINIA JEALOUS OF FRENCH DESIGNS-ENGLISH EFFORTS TO EX- PLORE AND SETTLE THE OHIO VALLEY.

Considerable difficulty was experienced in maintaining ami- cable relations with the Indians, owing to French influences. Minor skirmishes and petty collisions frequently occurred on the border. The French were extremely busy in their designs, actively working for their own interests, and a war with the savages was imminent. By careful handling, however, and friendly assistance from the Six Nations, they were persuaded to attend a general council at Lancaster, Pa., held in 1744. This conference with the Indians was attended by agents of the col- onies of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland, and all matters of dispute were, for a time, settled. A sum amounting to six hundred pounds was raised and presented to them by these colonies.

But the same year, the Shawanese, on the Ohio, began to show symptoms of disaffection to the English, subserviency to the French, and soon after openly assumed a hostile character.

Great Britain rested her claim to the valley of the Ohio upon the treaties with the Six Nations, who claimed to have conquered the whole country from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, and

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

from the lakes to Carolina. Prominent among these treaties was this one niade at Lancaster, in June, 1744, by which a territory of undefined extent was ceded. It seems to be very certain, from the declarations of the Indians at subsequent treaties, that they had been dceeived in some way at Lancaster, and that they did not intend to cede any lands west of the mountains. But far-seeing men among the colonists, at this early period realized the importance of this vast region, and Virginia, basing her claim to the Great Northwest Territory by right of her charter, soon became jealous of the designs of France. Governor Spottswood, of Virginia, is said to have become alarmed by the extent of French claims as early as 1716, and aimed to interrupt the chain of communication be- tween the French possessions in Canada and Louisiana, by ex- tending the line of Virginia settlements westward. He caused the passes in the mountains to be examined; desired to pro- mote settlements west of them, and sought to collect friendly Indians within the province. He also planned the incorpora- tion of a Virginia Indian Company, which, from the profits of the monopoly of the traffic, might support forts at eligible points. He was, however, opposed by the people, and aceom- plished nothing. Subsequently other efforts were made to arouse the British cabinet against the ambitious designs of France, but nothing was done, and in this way the French were permitted, for a time, to extend their efforts to establish them- selves from the lakes to the head of the Ohio.

But as the subjects of the governments approached more closely to each other, jealousies would grow stronger and col- lisions become more probable.

In 1747, the Indians on the borders of the Ohio, connected with the Iroquois, visited Philadelphia, to tender their homage and to invite the province to send commissioners to a council fire, at which the neighboring nations were present. The coun- cil invited the governments of Maryland and Virginia to send their agents, and to unite in preparing a suitable present. Goods were provided and Conrad Weiser was selected as envoy on the part of Pennsylvania.

Strong efforts were made by both contending parties to enlist the services of the Six Nations, but, while they listened respect- fully and accepted presents, they politely declined all overtures.

On the 7th of October, 1748, a definite treaty of peace was concluded between England and France at Aix La Chappelle. This terminated the war, which had given no substantial ad- vantage to either power, but did not arrest the movements of either nation to strengthen themselves on the Ohio. Peace was of short duration-both parties became active in their efforts to possess the coveted region, and soon the two nations were plunged in another costly and bloody war. The move- ments of both nations at this period are important points in the history of the Ohio valley and the great Northwest Terri- torv.

In the sixth note to the second volume of Sparks' writings of Washington, we have the following account of the first move- ment toward making a settlement on the Ohio.

THE OHIO COMPANY.

In the year 1748, Thomas Lee, one of His Majesty's council in Virginia, formed the design of effecting settlements on the wild lands west of the Allegheny mountains, through the agency of an association of gentlemen. Before this date there were no English residents in those regions. A few traders wandered from tribe to tribe, and dwelt among the Indians, but they neither cultivated nor occupied the lands. With the view of carrying his plan into operation, Mr. Lee associated himself with twelve other persons in Virginia and Maryland, and with Mr. Hanbury, a merchant in London, who formed what they called "The Ohio Company." Lawrence Washing- ton and his brother Augustine Washington (two brothers of George Washington) were among the first who engaged in this scheme. A petition was presented to the king in behalf of the company, which was approved, and five hundred thousand acres of land were granted almost in the terms requested by the company.

The object of the company was to settle the lands and to carry on the Indian trade upon a large scale. Hitherto the trade with the western Indians had been mostly in the hands of the Pennsylvanians. The company conceived that they might derive an important advantage over their competitors in this trade from the water communication of the Potomac and the eastern branches of the Ohio, whose headwaters approx- imated each other. The lands were to be chiefly taken on the south side of the Ohio, between the Monongahela and Kanawha

rivers, and west of the Alleghenies. The privilege was re- served, however, by the company of embraeing a portion of the lands on the north side of the river, if it should be deemed ex- pedient. Two hundred thousand acres were to be selected im- mediately, and to be held for ten years free from quit-rent or any tax to the king, on condition that the company should at their own expense scat one hundred families on the lands within seven years, and build a fort and maintain a garrison sufficient to protect the settlement.

The first steps taken by the company were to order Mr. Han- bury, their agent in London to send over for their use two car- goes of goods suited to the Indian trade, amounting in the whole to four thousand pounds sterling : one cargo to arrive in November, 1749 ; the other in March following. They resolved, also, that such roads should be made and houses built, as would facilitate the communication from the head of navigation on the Potomac river across the mountains to some point on the Mon- ongahela. And as no attempt at establishing settlements could safely be made without some previous arrangements with the Indians, the company petitioned the government of Virginia to invite them to a treaty. As a preliminary to other proceedings, the company also sent out Mr. Christopher Gist with instruc- tions to explore the country, examine the quality of the lands, keep a journal of his adventures, draw as accurate a plan of the country as his observations would permit, and report the same to the board. On his first tour he was absent nearly seven months, penetrated the country for several hundred miles north of the Ohio, visited the Twightwee* Indians, and procceded as far south as the falls of that river. In November following, (1751,) he passed down the south side of the river, as far as the Great Kanawha, and spent the winter in exploring the lands on that route. Meantime the Indians had failed to assemble at Logstown, where they had been invited by the governor of Virginia to hold a treaty. It was natural that the traders, who had already got possession of the ground, should endeavor to bias the Indians, and throw obstacles in the way of any in- terference from another quarter. The French were likewise tampering with them, and from political motives were using means to withdraw them from every kind of alliance or inti- macy with the English. The company found that it would be in vain to expect much progress in their designs, till incasures had been adopted for winning over the Indians; and accordingly the proposed treaty of Logstown took place the next year, when Mr. Gist attended as their agent, to look to the interests of any settlement that might be made on the southeast side of the Ohio. This treaty was concluded June 13th, 1752. Colonel Fry, and two other commissioners, were present on the part of Virginia.

It is remarkable, that, in the debates attending the negotia- tion of this treaty, the Indians took care to disclaim a recogni- tion of the English title to any of these lands. In a speech to the commissioners, one of the old chiefs said : " You acquainted us yesterday with the king's right to all the lands in Vir- ginia, as far as it is settled, and back from thence to the sun- setting, whenever he shall think fit to extend his settlements. You produced also a copy of his deed from the Onondago Coun- cil at the treaty of Lancaster, (1744,) and desired that your brethren of the Ohio might likewise confirm the deed. We are well acquainted that our Chief Council at the treaty of Lan- caster confirmed a deed to you for a quantity of land in Vir- ginia which you have a right to; but we never understood be- fore you told us yesterday, that the lands then sold were to ex- tend farther to the sun-setting, than the hill on the other side of the Allegheny hill, so that we can give you no farther answer."t

Hence it appears that the Indians west of the Ohio, who inhabited the lands, had never consented to any treaty ceding them to the English, nor understood that this cession extended beyond the Allegheny mountains.

When the company was first instituted, Mr. Lee, its pro- jector, was its principal organ and most efficient member. He died soon afterwards, and then the chief management fell on Lawrence Washington, who had engaged in the enterprise with an enthusiasm and energy peculiar to his character. His agency was short, however, as his rapidly declining health soon terminated in his death. Several of the company's shares changed hands. Governor Dinwiddie and George Mason be- came proprietors. There were originally but twenty shares, and the company never consisted of more than that number of members.

Mr. Lawrence Washington had a project for inducing Ger-

*Miamis. +MSS. Journal of the Commissioners.

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

man settlers to take up the lands. He wrote to Mr. Hanbury

as follows :

" Whilst the unhappy state of my health called me back to our springs (at Bath, in Virginia,) I conversed with all the Pennsylvania Dutch (Germans) whom I met, either there or elsewhere, and much recommended their settling in Ohio. The chief reason against it was the paying of an English clergy- man, whom few understood, and none made use of him. It has been my opinion, and I hope ever will be, that restraints on eonscience are cruel, in regard to those on whom they are im- posed, and injurious to the country imposing them. England, Holland, and Prussia, I may quote as examples, and much more Pennsylvania, which has flourished under that delightful liberty, so as to become the admiration of every man, who con- siders the short time it has been settled. As the ministry have thus far shown the true spirit of patriotism, by encouraging the extending of our dominions in America, I doubt not by an application they would still go farther and complete what they have began, by procuring some kind of charter to prevent the residents on the Ohio and its branches, from being subject to parish taxes. They all assured me, that they might have from Germany any number of settlers, eould they but obtain their favorite exemption. I have promised to endeavor for it, and now do my utmost by this letter. I am well assured we shall never obtain it by a law here. This colony was greatly settled in the latter part of Charles the First's time, and during the usurpation, by the zealous churchmen; and that spirit, which was then brought in has ever since continued, so that, except a few Quakers, we have no dissenters. But what has been the eonsequence ? We have increased by slow degrees, except negroes and convicts, whilst our neighboring colonies, whose natural advantages are greatly inferior to ours, have become populous."

A proposition was made by several Germans in Pennsylva- nia, that, if they could have the above exemption, they would take fifty thousand acres of the company's land, and settle it with two hundred families. Mr. Washington wrote likewise on the subject, to Governor Dinwiddie, then in England, who replied : "It gave me pleasure, that the Dutch (Germans,) wanted fifty thousand acres of land granted to the Ohio com- pany, and I observe what you write about their own clergy- men, and your endeavor to have them freed from paying the church of England. I fear this will be a difficult task to get over; and at present, the Parliament is so busy with public affairs, and the ministry of course engaged, that we must wait some time before we can reply ; but be assured of my utmost endeavors therein." No proof exists that any other steps were taken in the affair.

Soon after the treaty at Logstown, Mr. Gist was appointed the company's surveyor, and instructed to lay off a town and fort at Chartiers creek, a little below the present site of Pitts- burgh, and on the east side of the Ohio. The company assessed on themselves four hundred pounds towards constructing the fort. In the meantime, Mr. Gist had fixed his residence on the other side of the Alleghenies, in the valley of the Monongahela, and indueed eleven families to settle around him on lands, which it was presumed would be within the company's grant. The goods had come over from England, but had never been taken farther into the interior than Will's creek, where they were sold to traders and Indians, who received them at that post. Some progress had been made in constucting a road to the Monongahela, but the temper of the Indians was such as to discourage an attempt to send the goods at the company's risk toa more remote point.

Things were in this state when the troubles on the frontiers broke out between the French and English, involving on one side or the other the various Indian tribes. All further opera- tions were suspended till towards the close of the war, when hostilities had nearly ceased on the Virginia frontier from the capture of Fort Duquesne, and weakened the efforts of the Freneh. In 1760 a statement of the company's case was drawn up by Mr. John Mereer, Secretary to the Board, and forwarded to Mr. Charlton Palmer, a solieitor in London, who was cm- ployed by the company to apply to the king for such further orders and instructions to the government in Virginia as might enable the company to carry their grant into excention. The business was kept in a state of suspense for three years, when the company resolved to send out an agent, with full powers to bring it as speedily as possible to a close. Col. George Mercer was selected for this commission, and instrueted to procure leave for the company to take up their lands according to the conditions of the original grant, or to obtain a reimbursement of the money which had been paid on the faith of that grant.

He repaired to London accordingly, and entered upon his charge. But at this time the counteracting interest of pri- vate individuals in Virginia, the claims of the officers and soldiers under Dinwiddie's proclamation, which extended to lands within the Ohio company's grant; and moreover, the schemes and application of the proprietors, of Walpole's Grant were obstacles not to be overcome. Col. Mercer remained six years in London, without making any apparent progress in the object of his mission, and at last he agreed to merge the interests of the Ohio company into those of Walpole's, or the Grand company, as it was called, on condition of securing to the former two shares in the latter, amounting to one thirty- sixth part of the whole. These terms were not approved by the members of the Ohio company in Virginia, nor was it clear that Col. Mercer's instructions authorized him to conclude such an arrangement. While the subject was still in agitation the Revolutionary War came on and put an end, not only to the controversy, but to the existence of the two companies. Thus the Ohio company was in action only about four years, having never in reality revived after its first check, at the commence- ment of hostilities with the French and Indianson the frontiers. All persons concerned were losers to a considerable amount, though at its outset the scheme promised important advan- tages both to individuals and the country at large.

In 1748 the company sent out as an agent Conrad Weiser, of Pennsylvania, who had been the envoy the year previous, to visit the Indians and obtain their consent to the occupation of the lands, in order to prevent the French from occupying the Ohio.

Preparations were made the same year to survey and colonize the lands, and a cargo of goods for the use of the settlers and for traffic with the Indians was purchased in London, to arrive the following spring (1749).

Other companies were also formed for similar purposes. In June, 1749, a grant of eight hundred thousand acres, from the Canada line on the northwest, was made to the Loyal Company, and upon the 29th of October, 1751, another grant of one hundred thousand acres was made to the Greenbriar Company.

1190782

CONTINUATION OF THE FRENCH DESIGNS.

In the meantime the French were neither idle nor blind. Foreseeing at once the result of the occupation of this region by Great Britain, they prepared for prompt and vigorous action, and entered upon actual explorations of the regions about the Allegheny and Ohio. They ascertained the geography of the country, and the proximity of English settlements on the south side of the Allegheny mountains. They took active measures to extend their trade among the Indians, well aware that in case of a rupture, the savages would prove useful auxiliaries, or dangerous enemies .* They did all they could to counteract the influence of the Ohio company among the Indians, by trading with them.

The Marquis de la Gallissoniere was now Governor-General of New France, (as they called all the country on the western continent claimed by them,) having succeeded Admiral de la Jonquiere early in the year 1749. He was an able man, possess- ing great sagacity, and well calculated to advance the designs of France in laying claim to this new territory. During the summer of that year he organized and fitted out an extensive expedition under the command of Captain Louis Celoron de Bienville, and numbering about three hundred men, French soldiers, Canadians and friendly Indians. The expedition started from Canada in July, 1749, and proceeded from the south shore of Lake Erie to the headwaters of the Allegheny. They were provided with a number of leaden plates, which they buried at different points along the Allegheny and Ohio, and which was a part of the method or ceremony, in claiming the territory in the name of the King of France. These leaden plates contained inscriptions, and are fully described in the

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 12

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728